Chapter 232 Quchi Birthday Banquet (Part 1)

When Yang Guifei celebrated her birthday, a birthday gift was indispensable. In order to give a unique birthday gift, almost every official racked his brains. The birthday gift was given well, which made the emperor happy, and promotion was just around the corner. Two years ago, Huang Heng, the prefect of Shenzhou, presented a psychic parrot to the imperial concubine, called Xueyi Niang, which made the empress like abnormalities. Huang Heng was promoted to Taichang Shaoqing, and a year later, he was promoted to the minister of the disciple and had a prosperous official career.

This year's birthday is particularly grand, and it is another opportunity for promotion. It depends on who can catch it. For Li Longji's sons, the birthday of the imperial concubine is different from usual. The Eastern Palace is still empty. At the beginning of the year, it was rumored that the fourth son, Di Wang Yan, had the hope of entering the Eastern Palace, but in the end it was silent. Two months ago, Li Longji praised Rong Wang Wan for being elegant, with a beautiful style and a prosperous descendants. For a time, the front door of the Rong Palace was crowded, but now it is silent, which disappointed many people.

It is precisely because of the long-term undecided position of the prince that it has attracted various rumors. Some say that the emperor intends to make the Eighteen Zi Mao a crown prince, but due to the imperial concubine, he has been slow to make a decision. Some say that the emperor wants to choose one of his sons and nephews as crown princes, but it is not necessarily the prince. Various rumors are emerging one after another, which makes the princes panic.

Today's birthday party is also an opportunity. If you can get the beautiful words of the Imperial Concubine, then the position of the Eastern Palace will be hoped. Early in the morning, King Qing called his son Li Qiu into the room.

He proudly placed a long box on the table and smiled, "This is the jade flute that my father only got this morning. How do you see?"

Li Qiu was surprised and hurriedly said, "But it is carved with that ten thousand-year-old ice jade?"

Li Cong nodded, "That's right!"

Li Qiu carefully opened the box, and a strong fragrance came to his nose. The box alone was carved with high-quality agarwood, which was extremely precious. On the silk in the box, there was a jade flute that was crystal clear and like a piece of ice. This ice jade was purchased by King Qing Li Cong in Yunzhou Horse Market for 500 ounces from a Uighur. It was as cold as ice, even in the hottest dog days. It was a rare treasure. The ice jade was long, so Li Cong asked a jade carving expert to carve it into a jade flute, preparing to offer it to his father, but happened to meet the birthday of the imperial concubine.

Li Qiu picked up the jade flute, but saw a pair of wine glasses of the same material in the box. He was stunned. Li Cong smiled and said, "This is made of residual materials. It is best to use it to drink wine. I am going to offer it to the emperor."

Li Qiu pondered for a moment, and then said, "I can understand the urgency of my father to enter the Eastern Palace, but I always feel that it will not be effective to do something in such a small section."

"Then what did you think it would work?" Li Cong was disappointed and showed an unhappy look on his face.

Li Qiu sighed in his heart. In fact, he had no interest in whether his father could enter the Eastern Palace. At the beginning of the year, he advised Li Cong to distribute all the land to the farmers, and clearly put forward the banner of strictly prohibiting land annexation, winning the hearts of the scholars and the people across the country. For this reason, he also analyzed to him specifically that the money he now has cannot be used up for dozens of lifetimes. What is the point of occupying tens of thousands of hectares of land?

If tens of thousands of hectares of land can be distributed to tenants, each household with ten acres, it will benefit hundreds of thousands of farmers. If half of their family wealth is spent, the hearts of scholars in the world can be obtained. What a powerful political resource, which lays a solid foundation for him to enter the Eastern Palace. Although Li Qiu analyzed it thoroughly, it was exchanged for Li Cong's scolding, and his family also pressed him to the ground and beat him twenty boards.

Li Qiu's heart was already cold. If such a greedy and stupid person and short-sighted person became the lord of the Tang Dynasty, it would not only be a tragedy for the Li clan, but also a disaster for the Tang Dynasty. What's more, he simply believed that Li Cong had no hope of entering the Eastern Palace.

Li Qiu began to miss his biological father, former prince Ying, who was killed in the 25th year of Kaiyuan.

At this moment, he saw Li Cong's face showing displeasure, and he was about to explain it to him. He would give it away as soon as he wanted to give it away. What's the matter with him?

Thinking of this, he smiled faintly and said, "Father, I mean, giving gifts is not about being precious, but about being different from others, and being loved by the imperial concubine. For example, the imperial concubine likes to drink morning dew and nourish her skin, but in summer, the emperor can completely build a high platform and place a copper plate to collect morning dew. No one else has this condition, but the father can do it. This way, let the empress like it, and secondly, it can please her for a long time, reflecting her father's filial piety, why not do it?"

Li Cong suddenly realized and slapped his fat thighs hard, "Yes! Why didn't I expect that I would set up the stage now and start collecting morning dew tonight."

He smiled at Li Qiu with approval and said, "Your suggestions are very good. In the future, we should make more useful suggestions and less of the matter of sharing land and giving money. This is my son."

Li Qiu smiled bitterly in his heart, without saying a word. The prince of the Eastern Palace is the crown prince of the Tang Dynasty, not the private position of the emperor. His father puts the cart before the horse, how could he enter the Eastern Palace?

He didn't want to mention this anymore, so he stood up and said, "Father, my child is going to prepare for the birthday party, so I'll say goodbye first."

Li Cong thought of Chaolu in his heart, so he hurriedly arranged to build a high platform.

Li Qiu rode away from Prince Qing's Mansion, took several turns in Chang'an City, and came to Prince Liang's Mansion. Liang's Mansion is the mansion of the former crown prince Li Heng. It is located in Yongfufang. It is an isolated house. Since Li Heng was dismissed from the position of crown prince, it has become the most deserted place in Chang'an. Li Heng almost never goes out, and no one comes to visit him. Green grass has grown on the steps.

At the beginning, Li Longji monitored him quite strictly and reported his every move, but as time passed, Li Longji was no longer interested in him. Since February this year, he has cancelled his surveillance. Li Heng also received an invitation tonight's birthday party. He ordered people to send some ordinary gifts to the palace, and he was preparing to attend the birthday party.

At this moment, Li Heng was unpacking a letter in his study. The letter was written to him by Li Qing'an. This was the only person among the civil and military officials in the court who kept in touch with him.

Li Heng opened the letter with trembling hands. It has been one year and another month since he was deposed. His temples look slightly gray, as if they are ten years older.

‘Your Highness the Crown Prince is above, and the minister Li Qing'an kowtowed.

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Li Qing'an's first words made Li Heng's tears flow out. He restrained the soreness of his nose, wiped away the tears with the back of his hand, and continued to look down.

‘I have already begun to recover Shaye. At present, I have nearly 80,000 troops, which can completely restore the old country for the Tang Dynasty. After I have knocked Shaye down, I will start to move the Han people to Shaye to settle down, so that it can form a state of the Tang Dynasty, reclaim land, livestock farming, and make Shaye a base for the Tang Dynasty to advance westward, and be self-sufficient in military supplies.

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Li Qing'an wrote more than a dozen pages of this letter. Li Heng read it carefully. At the end of the letter, Li Qing'an wrote: "I think that although your highness has suffered setbacks, it does not mean that the path of crown prince will be cut off. I should contact my loyal old ministers and do my best to return to the Eastern Palace. I hope that your highness will be cheerful and live up to his expectations. As long as the minister is still there, the princelings will never disappear."

Li Heng's tears poured out again, his heart was undulating, his horse's strength was seen from afar, and people's hearts were seen over time. Only in times of distress could he see truly loyal to his ministers. As long as Li Qing'an is still there, the princelings will never disband.

At this time, the voice of the confidant eunuch Li Jingzhong came from the door, "Your Highness, someone is asking for a meeting!"

Li Heng quickly put away the letter and asked, "Who is it?"

Li Jingzhong hesitated for a moment and said, "It's Li Qi, the son of King Qing."

"Who is it?" Li Heng suspected that he had heard it wrong.

"Your Highness is the son of King Qing."

Li Heng was silent for a moment, then nodded and said, "Let him come in!"

Li Heng ignited Li Qing'an's letter until it burned to ashes and threw it into the incense burner. Now he no longer believed anyone.

Soon, Li Qiu was taken in, and he bowed and bowed deeply when he entered the door, "Nephew, please see my uncle!"

Li Heng then remembered that Li Qi was the son of his second brother Li Ying. When Prince Ying was deposed in his early years and was sympathetic to him, he couldn't help feeling sad, so he waved his hand and said gently: "You don't have to be too polite, please sit down!"

"Uncle Xie!"

Li Qiu sat down and said, "Today my nephew is not the son of King Yiqing, but the son of the former crown prince. My father is not King Qing Cong, but Prince Ying. I hope my uncle can understand my nephew's painstaking efforts."

Li Heng was stunned, and after a long time he asked, "I wonder if my nephew is looking for me today, is there anything wrong?"

Li Qiu took out a book from his arms and handed it to Li Heng and said, "Does my uncle still remember the eunuch Wang Anliang who served in the study before? This is his hiding place."

‘Wang Anliang?’ Li Heng still remembers one thing: when the East Palace was deposed, a large number of eunuchs and palace maids from the East Palace were released from the palace, and Wang Anliang was one of them.

Li Heng nodded and asked, "Does this eunuch have anything to do with me?"

"It's a big deal. He put the villain in my uncle's study at the time."

"What!" Li Heng stood up with a 'tween!', glaring at his eyes and said anxiously: "You mean, the villain found in my study was what he did?"

Li Qiu nodded slowly, "It was exactly what he did. This eunuch was actually the spy that King Qing put in the East Palace. After the matter was completed, he was hidden by me. Now he is in my hands. If my uncle wants him, he can take it at any time."

After saying that, Li Qi looked at Li Heng. Li Heng slowly sat down and gritted his teeth and said, "So it's him! I want to kill him with my own hands."

"Is it as simple as my uncle just wants to kill him?"

"No! I want to hand it over to my father and give me a cleansing."

Li Heng was so excited that he could not suppress his father. He had never cursed his father. He must get this innocence back.

After a while, he restrained his excitement and asked Li Qiu, "What did you tell me about this?"

"It's very simple. I hope my uncle can re-enter the East Palace."

"Why?" Li Heng's turbid gaze suddenly became extremely sharp.

A trace of sadness flashed in Li Qiu's eyes, and he smiled faintly: "Maybe it was my uncle's experience that reminded me of my biological father. I hope that the tragedy of my biological father will not happen again. Of course, among all the uncles, I am optimistic about my third uncle, and this is also for my own future."

Speaking of this, he took out another book and smiled and said, "In addition to this Wang Anliang, there is also the witch's son, who is also a key witness."

As time gradually came, officials' carriages began to drive towards Qujiangchi. Many ordinary families also rushed towards Qujiangchi with their wives and daughters. Even if they couldn't enter Furong Garden, it was a life enjoyment.

It was not dark yet, but the Furong Garden by the Qujiang Pool was already full of light. Various lanterns and palace lanterns set off the Furong Garden like a fairyland on earth. The surroundings were already heavily guarded. Nearly 10,000 imperial guards surrounded the Furong Garden. All visitors must enter with invitations and register at the gate, including family and children.

There was about half an hour before dusk, and the carriage of Mingyue and his daughter slowly stopped at the registration office on the roadside of Furong Garden. More than a dozen carriages had been parked here, and in front of a long row of tables, many guests were signing in.

Mingyue and his daughter got off the carriage. Mrs. Pei had an imperial decree. She was wearing a formal imperial decree. Mingyue was still wearing a six-piece red wide skirt with a belt tied under her armpits. She was particularly pretty and slender. She was wearing a thin silk shirt on her upper body and a colorful shiny brocade. Her hair was combed into a high bun. Her beauty and dignified look made her look beautiful and glamorous, as if a fairy in the clouds came down to earth. Wherever she went, it immediately caused a whisper, and countless pairs of eager eyes looked at her.

Mingzhu pouted and looked unhappy. She was still forced to wear a green floor-dress. The skirt did not fit, which made her look very small, following her sister like a doll. Mrs. Pei also regretted it. She dressed Mingzhu a little more solemnly, trying to find a suitable family for her, but this outfit gave people the feeling that she was underage. Mrs. Pei had no choice but to find a place to change her skirt.

"Pearl!"

Suddenly someone was calling her loudly behind her. Mingzhu turned around and saw that it was her friend Changsun Yun. She jumped up with joy. Mrs. Pei coughed heavily and said to her sternly: "Pay attention to your demeanor!"

Mingzhu had no choice but to walk forward honestly. She saw Changsun wearing a short skirt that was only on the feet and dressed very casually, and she felt envious and wronged in her heart.

Seeing that she was dressed tightly, Changsun Yun couldn't help but cover her mouth and laughed, "Mingzhu, is your mother looking for a husband for you?"

"No!" Mingzhu muttered: "My mother wants to be face-saving. She must dress like this. She feels like she is in jail and is so uncomfortable."

"Mingzhu, let's sit together later!"

"Okay! Be with my mother, don't think of having a good life tonight."

Mingyue took out the invitation here. Her invitation was unique. Others were red, but she was red and yellow. This was Yang Guifei's private invitation. The official of the Ministry of Rites, who was responsible for registering, immediately felt awe-inspiring, took out a golden booklet and put it in front of Mingyue and opened it: "Miss Dugu, please sign!"

Mingyue wrote down the four words Dugu Mingyue in beautiful small characters. She hesitated for a moment, and wrote down 'Anxi Jiedushi Li Qing' on her name. Then she put down her pen and took it out and said with a smile: "This is a little gift from the envoy Li to the imperial concubine, please accept it!"

The eunuch from the provincial eunuch next to him hurriedly took it, "Thank you!"

At this time, Mrs. Pei had already registered and stood aside and looked at her daughter with a smile. Mingyue's knowledge of the book made her feel very relieved. She looked back at Mingzhu and saw that she was like a little sparrow, chattering and talking to Changsun Yun. She couldn't help but sigh secretly. Her little daughter was already sixteen years old, but she always looked like a child who never grew up.

Seeing that Mingyue had already registered, she smiled and said, "Okay, let's go in! Mingzhu, leave."

"Mom, Yun'er and I will say a few more words and come to find you later."

"Whatever you want!"

Mrs. Pei and Mingyue walked into the Furong Garden. The Furong Garden is a royal garden and ordinary people are not allowed to enter. The garden is decorated in a magnificent manner, with real flowers and fake flowers shining together. The branches are covered with silk and satin. Grapes made of agate can be seen everywhere, and pomegranates made of jade can be seen everywhere. But the most moving one is the dozens of hectares of lotus flowers on the water surface, that is, the hibiscus flowers, blooming in full bloom, white, red, and pink. The water surface is colorful and red, and it is particularly enchanting.

Yang Guifei was born in the season when the hibiscus flowers are blooming most, so she also has another name, Yang Furong. There is also a large pleasure boat on the water surface. A singing girl will sing to the imperial concubine on the pleasure boat. Today, the home court of her birthday is in the Furong Hall. This is a huge group of buildings, half built in the water and half built on the land, with bracelets and beams, magnificent and magnificent momentum. The main hall and two side halls can accommodate more than 5,000 people to eat at the same time.

Fifth-rank officials and their wife with imperial decrees sat in the main hall, while others were having dinner in two side halls. At this time, nearly half of the guests had arrived. A group of dancers in the middle of the hall was dancing gracefully, and the sound of silk and bamboo was pleasant. Since the door of the hall was just opened, there were people looking for seats everywhere in the hall, and eunuchs and palace maids in the palace led the way for them respectively.

The male and female guests in the main hall sat separately, the male guests were on the right and the female guests were on the right. The male guests quickly found a seat and gathered together in groups of three or five to chat. The female guests were much more troublesome to find a seat. They often found half of them, and they started chatting excitedly when they met an acquaintance, leaving the palace maid who led them aside, and forgot to find a seat.

Mingyue is a separate invitation, so she can sit in the main hall and the upper seat. This is a seat that only a fourth-rank or above imperial wife can sit. Everyone wears solemn and serious court uniforms, but her clothes are gorgeous and look particularly unique.
Chapter completed!